SenateDivision 13 · 31 Jul 2025

Sex Discrimination Amendment (Restoring Biological Definitions) Bill 2025 - First Reading - Let the bill be considered in Parliament

Not passed25 aye · 36 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against a motion "That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time." In other words, they voted against considering this bill and so it has failed.

It is unusual for bills to fail at the first reading stage. When explaining their decision to vote against a first reading, the Greens and Labor Parties both reported that they did not want to create a platform in parliament for discriminatory language that could negatively impact already marginalised young Australians. When explaining their decision to vote in favour of a first reading, the Liberal Party reported that they did so to uphold ordinary procedure.

What does this bill do?

According to the bill homepage, the purpose of this bill was to amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to remove references to ‘gender identity’ and insert definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’. The effect would be to remove anti-discrimination protections from trans, gender diverse and intersex people.

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

First reading: The first reading is the formal introduction of a bill. A division at this stage decides whether the bill is introduced at all.

Related bills

Sex Discrimination Amendment (Restoring Biological Definitions) Bill 2025

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	0	23
Liberal–National Coalition	21	0
Australian Greens	0	12
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	2	0
United Australia Party	1	0
Unknown	1	0
Independent	0	1

Every vote

Other divisions this sitting day

What the Senate divided on around this vote, in order.

31 Jul 2025Early Childhood Education and Care (Strengthening Regulation of Early Education) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Early Childhood Education and Care CommissionSenate 13–27
31 Jul 2025Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 per cent) Bill 2025 - in Committee - Maximum student contribution amounts for placesSenate 11–29
31 Jul 2025Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 per Cent) Bill 2025 - Adoption of Report - Adopt the Committee reportSenate 36–3
31 Jul 2025Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 per Cent) Bill 2025 - Third Reading - Pass the billSenate 36–3
31 Jul 2025Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence) Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Anti-SemitismSenate 25–33
31 Jul 2025Committees — Selection of Bills Committee; ReportSenate 13–31
31 Jul 2025Committees — Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; ReferenceSenate 27–33
31 Jul 2025Committees — Environment and Communications References Committee; ReferenceSenate 37–24
31 Jul 2025Committees — Environment and Communications References Committee; ReferenceSenate 27–34
31 Jul 2025Committees — Productivity in Australia Select Committee; AppointmentSenate 23–37
31 Jul 2025Documents - Middle East - Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 14–34
31 Jul 2025Documents - National Disability Insurance Scheme - Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 28–34